India : IND: 145 MEGAWATTS GRID-CONNECTED SOLAR PROJECT
The project is designed to promote sustainable growth by diversifying India_s energy mix through the addition of renewable energy capacity. The development impact of the project also includes environmental benefits through more efficient use of indigenous renewable energy resources with almost no emission of pollutants or greenhouse gases. The building of the project will help prove the feasibility of utility-scale solar power projects in India and the operational performance in a location where substantial development in solar power is planned during 2012 _ 2017.
Project Details
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Project Officer
Nath, Kiron
Private Sector Operations Department
Request for information -
Country/Economy
India -
Modality
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Sector
- Energy
| Project Name | IND: 145 MEGAWATTS GRID-CONNECTED SOLAR PROJECT | |||||
| Project Number | 44932-054 | |||||
| Borrower / Company | SAND LAND REAL ESTATE PVT LTD |
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| Country / Economy | India |
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| Location | The project is across the six locations in Gujarat state which are generally within a 150 kilometers (km) radius of the cities of Ahmedabad, Porbandar, and Rajkot. | |||||
| Type or Modality of Assistance |
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| Strategic Agendas | Inclusive economic growth |
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| Drivers of Change | ||||||
| Sector / Subsector | Energy / Renewable energy generation - solar |
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| Gender | ||||||
| Responsible ADB Department | Private Sector Operations Department | |||||
| Responsible ADB Division | Portfolio Management Division, PSOD | |||||
| Responsible ADB Officer | Nath, Kiron | |||||
| Project Sponsor(s) | Hindustan Cleanenergy Limited |
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| Description | The project is designed to promote sustainable growth by diversifying India_s energy mix through the addition of renewable energy capacity. The development impact of the project also includes environmental benefits through more efficient use of indigenous renewable energy resources with almost no emission of pollutants or greenhouse gases. The building of the project will help prove the feasibility of utility-scale solar power projects in India and the operational performance in a location where substantial development in solar power is planned during 2012 _ 2017. | |||||
| Objectives and Scope | The project constructed 25 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaic power project at village Alwada and Khimat, District Banaskantha in the state of Gujarat. The project is designed to promote sustainable growth by diversifying energy mix in India through the addition of renewable energy capacity. The development impact of the project also includes environmental benefits through more efficient use of indigenous renewable energy resources with almost no emission of pollutants or greenhouse gases. The building of the project will help prove the feasibility of utility-scale solar power projects in India and the operational performance in a location where substantial development in solar power is planned during 2012 2017. | |||||
| Status of Development Objectives | The project is meeting the development objectives as stated above. | |||||
| Status of Operation/Construction | The project is fully operational. | |||||
| Material Changes | - | |||||
| Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy | The project supports two of the five core operational areas of Strategy 2020 infrastructure and environment. The project is aligned with the India country partnership strategy (CPS), 2009 2012. One of the four strategy pillars of the CPS is to support inclusive and environmentally sustainable growth through continued focus on infrastructure development and enhanced focus on renewable energy. The project is consistent with one key outcome indicator of the CPS, which targets an addition of at least 70 MW of solar power generation through ADB assistance by 2012. |
| Safeguard Categories | |
|---|---|
| Environment | B |
| Involuntary Resettlement | C |
| Indigenous Peoples | C |
| Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects | |
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| Environmental Aspects | The project is classified category B for environment due to limited adverse environmental impacts which are site specific, largely reversible and can be readily addressed through mitigation measures. The project site is not located in a sensitive ecosystem, and is not significant from a historical and cultural perspective. The land purchased for the project is classified as agricultural land but the fertility of the land has been degraded over a period of time due to problem of high salt concentration in the soil and low organic carbon and nitrogen content. The location of the project site coupled with the clean nature of solar power generation ensures that the Project will not cause any significant adverse environmental and social impacts during construction and operation. The main impacts were identified as clearing of shrub vegetation, waste management and management of labor camps at the site. Most of the impacts were limited to the construction phase. Adequate mitigation actions were undertaken in line with management and monitoring of a set of recommended mitigation measures. Regular monitoring of the recommended mitigation measures is being carried out during the operational phase of the project. |
| Involuntary Resettlement | The project is classified category C for involuntary resettlement. The total land available for the project is 84.58 hectares (ha). The land acquired for the project is total private land and has been purchased on a voluntary basis (willing seller willing buyer basis) from the land owners. The sale of land was an opportunity to earn income from an otherwise unproductive land. The payment provided against the land purchased has helped farmers to find alternative land in a more fertile area or start an alternate livelihood. The solar power plant will be using the following associated facilities for the project: access roads, transmission lines and sub-station. The project will utilize the existing village road; no new roads will be built as part of this project. |
| Indigenous Peoples | The project is categorized C with respect to indigenous people. There were no permanent or temporary inhabitants dwelling on the site as confirmed by interviews with the local community/village residents during the site visit. Also, the land where the solar power generation facility was constructed is not owned, used, occupied, or claimed as ancestral domain or asset of any tribal groups. |
| Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation | Stakeholder consultations were held with the resident of the villages where Sand Land power plant is located. During public consultation meetings, villages were informed about proposed project, development prospects, project impacts and measures to mitigate possible negative impacts. The prospects of improving social and economic status of the region as a result of a successful project implementation as well as corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities of the Company were also discussed. The CSR activities proposed by the Company and to be taken up during the operational phase of the project include: solar light for temple; assistance for village schools; transportation facility; women empowerment programs; and drinking water facility. During site visit in February 2012, discussions were undertaken on an informal basis with a group of 7-8 community members from the villages who confirmed that they were made aware of the project. They indicated their satisfaction with the project which will bring more jobs to the village and opportunities to set up small businesses for construction and operational workers. |
| Timetable for assistance design, processing and implementation | |
|---|---|
| Concept Clearance | 02 Aug 2010 |
| Credit Committee Meeting | 13 Aug 2012 |
| Approval | 18 Sep 2012 |
| PDS Creation Date | 01 Oct 2013 |
| Last PDS Update | 28 Apr 2014 |
Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.
The Access to Information Policy (AIP) recognizes that transparency and accountability are essential to development effectiveness. It establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced.
The Accountability Mechanism provides a forum where people adversely affected by ADB-assisted projects can voice and seek solutions to their problems and report alleged noncompliance of ADB's operational policies and procedures.
In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of, or reference to, a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.
| Title | Document Type | Document Date |
|---|---|---|
| 145 Megawatts Grid-connected Solar Project: Project Data Sheet (हिन्दी) | Translated PDS | Mar 2013 |
| 145 MW Grid Connected Solar Project: Extended Annual Review Report | Extended Annual Review Reports | Sep 2015 |
Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.
| Title | Document Type | Document Date |
|---|---|---|
| 145 MW Grid Connected Solar Project - Sand Land Real Estate Private Limited: Environmental and Social Monitoring Report (April 2013-March 2014) | Environmental and Social Monitoring Reports | Jul 2015 |
| 145 MW Grid Connected Solar Project - Sand Land Real Estate Private Limited: Environmental and Social Monitoring Report (April 2014-March 2015) | Environmental and Social Monitoring Reports | Oct 2015 |
| 145 MW Grid Connected Solar Project - Sand Land Real Estate Private Limited: Environmental and Social Monitoring Report (April 2015-March 2016) | Environmental and Social Monitoring Reports | Aug 2016 |
| 145 MW Grid Connected Solar Project - Sand Land Real Estate Private Limited: Environmental and Social Monitoring Report (March-September 2013) | Environmental and Social Monitoring Reports | Sep 2013 |
| IND: 145 Megawatts Grid-Connected Solar Project: 25 MWp Ganges Solar Power Project | Initial Environmental Examination | Aug 2012 |
Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation
None currently available.
Related Publications
None currently available.
The Access to Information Policy (AIP) establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced in its operations to facilitate stakeholder participation in ADB's decision-making. For more information, refer to the Safeguard Policy Statement, Operations Manual F1, and Operations Manual L3.
Requests for information may also be directed to the InfoUnit.